The Irish standard., 1887-01-22
Mr.. ANDREW j. KETTLE,
One Of the Men Of Action in the
Land League Days, Sounds
the Note Of Alarm.
HE ADVISES IRISH FARMERS
To Demand Rent Reductions Down
the Prairie Value-Many Strong
Points Brought Forward.

Mr.. A. j. Kettle. one of The men of
action in the Llnd- League days, adj
vises Irish farmers to demand rent re-
ductions down to the prairie value. The
following is his letter on the subject
addressed to the Dublin Freeman:
SlR-I hope the Irish farmers are not
surprised at the present action Of the
landlord Government, backed up sis
they are, and will be, by the screw
manufacturer, Mr. Chamberlain. We
may expect our enemies to do their
worst this time. as it will be their last
attack on Irish rights; so it is just as
we'll to oe prepared for them. MY OBJ
iect in writing this letter to my brother
farmers is to point out the necessity
and wisdom Of advancing our fine Of
defence to meet the approaches of the
enemy. When Gray and Butt were
leading the attack q ainst landlordism
it was common to meet with the most
extraordinary evidences Of how mems
minds become warped and their moral
perceptions twisted by force Of cijcum-
stances and by daily contact with crime.
On the one hand you would meet q
man who in many respects might be
considered a gentleman, who i'll his
ordinary dealings would not alone not
be guilty Of dishonesty but who would
scorn to be thought mean, yet who in
his capacity as all Irish landlord would
at every opportunity settle Gown to rob
and plunder often the very poorest OF
his fellow creatures Of the hard-earncd,
aud perhaps most sacred SPECIES Of prop
erty to ba found Oh this earth-namely,
the Improvements on their holding
without the slightest compunction. On
the Other hand, you would meet s. nan
keen, enterprising and economical, who
in the business OF life would hold his
own with any man, bu who, in bis
capacity as Irish tenant, would not
alone acknowledge the landlords claim
TO rcb him, but ;actra!ly--as 1 often
heard then-defend his right to do so.
AL! this has passed, butail the strange
phases OF the land struggle haTe not
yet lissapealed. What are the most
prominent points in connection with
tho land-war to-day? On the one hand
we have the felonious landlords with
their coercion Government and press
calling out before the civilized world
in the sacred name Of religion and
morality upon the Irish farmers to pay
an impossible rent tax, not alone Oh
the land which God gave to the
whole human family, but feloni-
onsly demanding rent upon the
property created by the excessive
Labor, industry, and self sacrifice Of
generations Of the Irish Industrial
classes. Or the othec hand we have
generation Of farmers who, notwith-
standing the teachings of their tenant
right leaders and Land League leaders,
are to-day mean!y begging miserable
reduction Of rack rents, not on account
of the robbery of their property, but
Temporary abatements TO meet fall in
prices. No wonder the landlords have
been able to run away with the story il,
their own favors, and 20 denounce the
dishonesty Of the farmers. A rise in
prices or good harvest would, / sup
pose, leave the present movement with
out point Or meaning. Now, the plain
fact of the matter is this, the Irish land
question was compromised down to the
level OF the most extreme expediency ill
order to meet the views of some Eng
lisa ministers, who would be induced
thereby to grant legislative freedom to
Ireland
The Irish farmers were asked by Mr..
Gladstone and Mr.. Parnell to pay a
very high price FOR the freedom of Ire
land, They were willing to do so if it
were at all possible, but when that offer
was spurned by the landlords is there
any valid reason now why the people
should not fall back upon the full meas
ure of their claims and rights? I will
give practical illustration of how ten
ants improvemts were created and rent
ed. I was reared on farm where the !
custom prevailed of my father taking the !
working members of his family out,
not after dinner, but after supper, to
create improvements, which at his
1eath on the fall of a lease had to bear
\ rise in rent of over go per cent. The
sarm had first been taken in war times
1t 40s. per acre, it was raised to 65s.,
Ind its present economic value with
out the improvements would be about
Ds. per acre. do not know what my
brother is Low paying for it, but hope
1e will, during this revolution, have
;he courage or good sense to have this
unjust rent tax removed from the pro-
oerty created by my sweat, privation,
md labor, and by the industry Of three